South End is about to get a new all-in-one hangout, as Market on Morehead targets a mid-May opening for its $6 million, full-service restaurant on the ground floor of The Offices at Carson Station at 1001 Morehead Square Drive. The concept is built around a large dog-friendly patio, a 25-foot Jumbotron and live-music stages, all wrapped around chef-driven American fare. Owners say they are aiming to draw both South End and Uptown crowds with brunch, burgers, craft cocktails and nightly programming, setting up what could become a high-capacity dining and events anchor on the rail-adjacent block.
What the space will look like
Inside, Market on Morehead is planning an open dining room, a long bar that runs up to the windows, a sunken seating area and a private room for parties. Outside, seating is designed to handle large crowds and watch parties around that giant screen. Executive chef Howard Stephens, who also leads the kitchen at the group’s Market on Main in Columbia, will oversee a menu centered on brunch items, burgers and small plates. “It’s basically a lot of exciting things that we’re trying to bring to the area,” co-founder Josh Willoughby said, as reported by the Charlotte Observer.
Price tag and sales goals
According to the Charlotte Business Journal, the partners have put roughly $6 million into the Market on Morehead buildout and are projecting $8 million to $10 million in annual sales. The restaurant fills the ground-floor space at 1001 Morehead Square Drive near the Carson light-rail stop, sharing the building with office tenants. The Business Journal notes that the team is aiming for a mid-May opening.
Construction and capacity
Swinerton is serving as general contractor on the tenant improvements, with design and interiors handled by local firms, according to Swinerton. Regional construction coverage describes roughly 10,000 square feet of space with a multi-level dining layout, a nearly 2,800-square-foot climate-controlled patio, a fenced turf area for off-leash dogs and fixtures sized to handle several hundred guests, as detailed by North Carolina Construction News.
Why South End
Set along the Rail Trail and about four blocks from Bank of America Stadium, the site is positioned to scoop up game-day, event and neighborhood traffic on the edge of Uptown. The restaurant’s own site pitches the project as a “community hub” built around food, drinks, live entertainment and year-round programming, and it highlights the dog-friendly patio and oversized outdoor screen, as noted on the Market on Morehead website.
Opening timeline and what’s next
Early previews had suggested a winter or early-spring debut, but the team has shifted that timeline into mid-May as construction and fit-out continue. The owners say they will lock in and share a firm opening date once inspections and final permits are wrapped up, according to the Charlotte Observer.
